Who Really Sets Security Policy: The Government or the Generals?

Moshe Cohen-Eliya argues that the storm over the replacement of Central Command chief Avi Bluth exposes the question of who determines security policy: the government or the generals. He criticizes the military's pre-October 7 mindset, calling it 'Waksmanization,' and asserts that Israel controls about 73% of Gaza. He urges Katz to act in an orderly process and warns of a possible petition to the High Court.

Moshe Cohen-Eliya, an expert in constitutional law, argues that the uproar surrounding Defense Minister Israel Katz's announcement to replace Central Command chief Avi Bluth with Major General Dado Bar Kalifa reveals a deeper question: who determines security policy—the elected government or the senior command echelon? The article criticizes the military, claiming that responsibility for the October 7 failure stems from a flawed cultural mindset, dubbed 'Waksmanization,' which turned commanders into risk managers rather than military leaders. He notes that most former chiefs of staff have aligned with left-wing parties, and that the military preferred deterrence over decisive victory. Cohen-Eliya criticizes the appointment of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who, he says, frequently expressed reservations about political decisions, and mentions a document in which Zamir warned against entering Gaza. He asserts that Israel controls about 73% of the Strip's territory. Regarding Katz, he states that Katz has no license to appoint generals live on air, and if Bar Kalifa was indeed recommended by the chief of staff, the dispute is about timing. He discusses the possibility of a High Court petition against Katz, drawing a comparison to the Ben Gvir case, and concludes that Katz must be firm but precise, acting in an orderly process.